Chapter 7
Thomas led them to a big house behind the lodge. Once inside, a woman who must have been his wife came out of the kitchen to greet them. “Seth, it’s nice to see you again, I hope everything is good with you,” she said, giving him a big hug.
“Marci, this is Lauren Anderson. I’m sorry to spring another guest on you like this, but we were out inspecting the cleanup sites and the weather held us up. I had to bring her with me or I might have been late getting here,” Seth said, pushing Lauren forward again.
“Oh, it’s no problem, you know I’m always ready for company. Welcome Lauren, I bet you’d like to get cleaned up, dinner will be ready in about an hour,” Marci said, taking Lauren by the arm and leading her to the back of the house. “I’ll have Seth bring your things in but for now there’s some clothes in the closet that should fit you. Take your time, there’s soap and shampoo in the cabinet,” Marci said, although she gave Lauren a strange look. “Seth’s never brought anyone here with him before,” she mumbled under her breath, but Lauren heard her. She was tempted to explain but was just too tired.
“Thank you for your hospitality, a shower sounds wonderful right now,” Lauren said, hoping the woman would leave her alone so she could get cleaned up.
“Your welcome. I’ll leave you to it. When you’re finished we’ll be in the kitchen, that’s where you’ll always find us. This great big house, and everyone has to hang out in my kitchen,” Marci said, shaking her head as she shut the door.
Lauren wanted to fall onto the bed, it looked so soft and warm, but she knew that she had to wash off two weeks of grime before she could even consider getting in the bed. After she’d taken what was probably the best shower of her life, she found the kitchen, which wasn’t hard; all she had to do was follow the sound of raised voices.
When she walked into the room, it was full of people, kids, adults, and even a few elderly men and women cozied up to the huge fireplace at the end of the room. It caught her off guard for a moment because she was sure that none of them had been there before, but Seth saw her and crossed the room to stand beside her.
There was total silence in the room as everyone held their breath. Lauren got the distinct feeling that they were all a bit shocked to see her. “I’d like everyone to meet Lauren Anderson,” he said, putting his arm around her shoulders. The silence grew until Seth added, “She’s from the EPA, but she’s on our side.”
Everyone let out a collective sigh and then questions started flying at them.
“What’s she doing here?”
“Has she met Grandfather?”
“Does she know where that awful man went?”
“Did you see all our complaints?”
Seth held up his hand. “Give her a second, everyone. Let me explain,” he said, but Lauren knew that this was her story to tell, so she held up her hand.
“I’ve got this,” she said, then moved farther into the room.
Marci stepped in then. “Move over and let her sit down. I’ll get you something to drink,” she said, ushering Lauren over to the table.
Suddenly the center of attention, Lauren had to decide how she was going to handle the situation. Instinctively she knew that the way she handled herself right now would dictate what kind of relationship she’d have with these people. Looking around the room, she knew that anything less than the truth would be disrespectful, these people were the innocents in all this. They deserved to know what was happening, what she planned to do. She also knew that she’d have to tell her story, all of it, if what she had to say was going to make a difference.
Making a decision that would change her life, she took the cup of coffee that Marci handed her, and began to tell her story. She started with the day she walked into her new office to find boxes and boxes of old records, making the group laugh with her imitation of the director and her description of her outfit that first day.
By the time she’d finished the story, the group was smiling, knowing that they’d found an ally in Lauren, and a person who wasn’t afraid to laugh at herself. “So, the government screwed you too,” one of the old men by the fire said, making the entire group burst into laughter.
“I guess you could say that. But I think that Seth’s plan really does have a chance of working,” she said, although she wasn’t as sure as she sounded.
“Now all we have to do is convince grandfather and the rest of the council,” Thomas said, eliciting a groan from the room.
When Lauren came out of her room the next morning, her gear was piled up outside the door. Relieved to have her own clothes, she spent the morning doing laundry and repacking her gear. At lunch, she found Marci in the kitchen alone and took the opportunity to try and get to know the woman better. Something told her that they could be good friends.
“You’re here all by yourself,” Lauren said when she walked in the door.
“Oh, it happens occasionally,” Marci said, laughing. “ReayReady for some lunch?”
“That would be great,” Lauren said, her stomach growling loud enough for both to hear. “I’m starving.
Marci laughed. “Nothing fancy, just sandwiches and chips,” she said, pulling bread and lunch meat out of the refrigerator.
They talked about their lives while they ate, Lauren amazed at how much work it was to live out here like they did. “I don’t know if I’d be able to live out here, it’s a lot of work,” she said, when Marci explained how they spent the summer and winter.
“It used to be a lot easier, but game is getting harder and harder to find,” Marci said, shaking her head.
Lauren was quiet for a second, thinking of what she seen. “I’ve seen it, it’s bad.”
“Do you really think that Seth can pull this off? If things don’t get better these villages like ours are going to die off, the young people want lives that aren’t so hard.” Marci’s concern was clearly not new.
“I think that it’s got a chance of working. He’s got some very talented, intelligent people working with him and the money to at least make a good start. I haven’t met Sam and Julie, but he seems to think that they’ll be able to help him bring back the ecosystem,” Lauren answered honestly.
“I met them yesterday and they were already talking about migrations routes, and birth rates, and a bunch of other stuff I didn’t completely understand,” Marci said.
“Honestly, I haven’t had time to go over Seth’s plan entirely, but from what I’ve seen he’s done his homework. I think the tribal council will be impressed with what he’s put together,” Lauren said, sure that the big black notebook would impress the man.
“You mean the notebook?” Marci asked, then when Lauren nodded her head, she said, “Oh, they’ve seen it and while it’s impressive, it’s just a notebook filled with a bunch of stuff none of us really understand. The council will want more than that.”
When Lauren looked confused, she continued, “Things are done a little differently out here. The council will look at Seth’s book, but it’s going to be his words that will make the difference. He’s going to have to convince them that he’s not like the rest of his family, he’s got to get them to trust him.”
Lauren understood, she’d felt the same way. “I understand that, I was the same way, but he’s convinced me. Where is he anyway? I haven’t see him all day.” Then she realized that she missed him; it was an alarming discovery and it must have shown on her face, because Marci gave her a knowing smile.
Lauren didn’t see her little smile, her attention was drawn to a truck pulling up in front of the house. Some men got out but Seth wasn’t one of them. “He’s probably at the lodge talking to the council,” Marci said, then added, “But he’ll be here for dinner.”
Dinner was a wild affair again that night. People she hadn’t met seemed to pour through the door as the hour got later, but there was still no sign of Seth and she was getting annoyed. When she agreed to come here with him, she hadn’t thought that he would just abandon her, but then she had to stop herself when she remembered that she wasn’t even supposed to be here.
When he finally walked through the door, she couldn’t suppress the smile of happiness, nor the wave of desire that followed. Seth smiled too when he caught her eye from across the room, his look of happiness mirroring Lauren’s. He tried to cross the room to get to her, but there were just too many people clamoring for his attention.
Marci, who was watching them carefully, saw that brief exchange and immediately began rearranging people around the huge table until there was a place next to Lauren at the table. When he sat down next to her, he flashed her a big smile, and gave her a questioning look. She shrugged her shoulders and looked around the big table.
“How was your day?” he asked, wondering how she’d kept herself busy all day.
“It was fine. I did my laundry and repacked my gear, then I helped Marci cook dinner,” Lauren said, thinking that it had been the most relaxing day she’d had in a long time.
“I hope you weren’t too bored,” he said, thinking that she looked anything but bored; she looked rested and refreshed.
“No, it was fine. I like Marci, tomorrow we’re making bread,” she said, surprised at how much she was looking forward to the next day.
“That will be for the tribal dinner, if I can manage to find some fresh meat,” Seth said, digging into his dinner.
“Tribal dinner?” she asked, wondering why Marci hadn’t told her about it that day.
“Marci didn’t tell you?” he asked. Then when she shook her head negatively, he began to explain, “There’s a lot of ceremony attached to events like this. It may take several days before I even get to see the entire tribal council together, and several days of talks after that. When we’re done, signed lease or not, there’ll be a huge feast.”
“And you’re responsible for the main course.” She was just beginning to understand what a lengthy process this was going to be, she’d have to find some way to keep herself busy or she’d lose her mind.
“I’ll leave early tomorrow morning with a hunting party and we won’t come back until we have enough fresh meat to feed the entire village, and right now that’s a lot of people. Nothing like this has happened for a hundred years, it’s a big deal to them, and I want to respect that.”
Lauren hadn’t thought about it from the that point of view. The decision the tribal council made over the next few days would affect everyone in the village and surrounding areas for a long time to come. It was their future that Seth was holding in his hands. Suddenly, the enormity of what Seth had been dealing with for months became real to her. Since this whole mess had been thrown in her lap, she’d been so busy trying to figure out how to come out on top, she’d forgotten that a people’s way of life was in jeopardy.
Feeling guilty for her selfish behavior, she looked up at Seth, realizing for the first time that although his family fortune was in jeopardy, that wasn’t why he was doing this. His motivation was unselfish, it was rooted in a love for the land and the people who lived on it, and to see both flourish. She said the first thing that came to her mind; it couldn’t begin to express what she was really feeling, but she had to say something.
“You’re a good man, Seth Montgomery.”
Seth’s heart expanded, a feeling of warmth flooding him when he heard her words. It shouldn’t have mattered that much to him, but for some reason hearing Lauren say them made him feel good. For months he’d been feeling guilty because when he should have stayed and fought his father, he’d run away and hidden. It had been a cowardly thing to do, one he regretted more and more every day, but he was here now and that would have to do.
He snorted, but said, “Thank you, Lauren.”
Lauren was flooded with pleasure when he said her name, his deep voice purring out the word, and the kiss they’d shared surfaced in her memory. More than anything she would have loved to lean over and kiss him just then, but that would be wildly inappropriate and send the wrong signal. Instead, she found his hand under the table and squeezed it, then knew that even that had been too much when a current of desire raced through her.
The hunting party had been gone for three days and everyone was getting nervous; it was a long time for the men to have been gone and with so much hanging in the balance people were getting restless. Lauren had paced around restless that first morning after they’d left, then offered to help Marci, who never turned down an offer of help and quickly put her to work.
Much to both their surprise, she seemed to enjoy Marci’s everyday chores and was even now in the garden picking the beans they’d can and put away for the winter in the huge cellar under the house, food that they could count on if things got bad. Marci had grown to like the woman, even think of her as a friend, and wondered just what had made Seth bring her with him. She felt something between them, but wasn’t sure yet if it was real.
She was so lost in her thoughts about Seth and Lauren that she didn’t hear Grandfather quietly sit down beside her. “Penny for your thoughts, Granddaughter,” he said, startling her.
“Oh, just daydreaming,” she said evasively. Grandfather was not a fan of her matchmaking, although even he couldn’t deny that she was always right. It was the tactics she used that bothered him, and he’d counseled her many times not to interfere in what fate had planned.
“Hmmp. I know that look,” he said, then sat silently while she snapped beans into the big bowl at her feet.
Marci knew why he’d come to see her and waited patiently for him to speak. “The hunting party has been gone for a long time. In my day, they would haven’t even been gone overnight.”
“Yes, game is getting scarce,” she said, knowing there was more coming.
“I hear that Seth Montgomery has a plan to change that,” he said, and was then silent, indicating that she could speak her mind.
“Yes, he does and it’s a good plan. It’s our best hope for saving our home. You and I both know that if something doesn’t change we’ll have to leave, there’s just not enough food here anymore.” Marci repeated what she’d been saying for several months.
“And you think we can trust him?” The question was blunt, but that was Grandfather’s way.
“I think we can, he doesn’t have to be doing all this, he could just walk away, but he feels responsible. Grandfather, he’s lived up here for fifteen years, and in that time, he’s been nothing but a good neighbor and friend. Don’t let his father’s sins color your view of him, listen to him and give him a chance.” Marci had been practicing that speech, knowing that this day would come, and was pleased that she’d gotten it all out so smoothly.
Grandfather nodded, then pointed to Lauren. “How does she fit into all of this?”
“She’s from the EPA, but I think she’s not like the other people from the government,” Marci said, then added, “She’s still young, she hasn’t been corrupted, and she’s very smart.”
Grandfather opened his mouth to reply, but just then there was a whooping from the forest and the hunting party came triumphantly into the village, three large deer in tow. A cheer went up from everyone in the village; now the real fun could begin, they could suspend their regular lives if only for a few days, forget their problems, and cut loose. Marci looked to where Lauren was crouched in the garden, amused to see a giant smile on her face when she saw Seth.
Lauren was on her feet instantly and flying across the garden to meet Seth, whose smile was just as big as hers when he saw her. Marci was sure that Lauren was going to throw herself into his arms, but she stopped short right at the last minute and simply stared up at him. She saw the disappointment cross Seth’s face and knew in that instant that Seth Montgomery had finally fallen for a woman. He might not know it yet, but he had.
He quickly covered his disappointment with another smile, and pulled Lauren over to where the women were butchering the deer. Lauren only hesitated a second before she took the knife from him and let him show her what to do. Marci’s mind began to race with all the possibilities, pleased to finally see Seth interested in something besides his cabin, and determined to help those possibilities along.
“Whatever you’re thinking, Marci, be very careful. The man might need a wife, but remember he thinks he doesn’t,” Grandfather said, getting up from the chair and heading to the butchering table.
After the meat had been butchered, the people scattered to their homes, only to return minutes later with so much food Lauren couldn’t imagine that they’d eat it all. “What’s going on?” she asked Seth.
“The people are gathering to hear the story of the hunt, it’s tradition,” he answered, guiding her over to the fire pit in front of the lodge, where the food was being set up and a huge fire lit. “I want you to sit with me.”
After everyone had consumed more food than Lauren had thought possible, Grandfather nodded to Seth, who got to his feet. She knew that he was nervous, he’d admitted as much to her while they’d been eating, but after a short pause, he launched into the story of how they’d found the deer.
At first his voice was uneven, but as he talked, giving the other hunters all the credit as was tradition, his voice grew stronger. Before long he had everyone spellbound with the story, including Lauren who couldn’t look away from Seth, and not only because he was an incredible storyteller. In the firelight, his face had softened, the lines disappearing as he wove a tale of bravery and triumph, suddenly looking like the boy from the picture she’d seen in his file.
All at once an overwhelming feeling of love swept through Lauren taking her breath away and she knew that she was in terrible trouble. Seth Montgomery was not the kind of man that you were supposed to fall in love with; he didn’t want love, marriage, or even children. Of course, neither did she, she reminded herself, wondering why she’d been thinking of that anyway. Her decision not to become a slave to a man, had been made a long time ago.
She was brought abruptly back to the story when a cheer went up from the people gathered around the fire. Seth bowed and sat back down next to her, clearly pleased that he’d done so well. She leaned over to him and said, “You should have been an actor or a politician.”
“Lately I feel like I am,” he said, but the smile never left his face.